Table of Contents

5. Ride within your Abilities

• 5.1. Basic Vehicle Control
• 5.6. Keeping your Distance
• 5.7. Lane Positions
• 5.8. Following Another Vehicle
• 5.9. Being Followed
• 5.10. Passing and Being Passed
• 5.11. Lane Sharing
• 5.12. Merging Cars
• 5.13. Cars Alongside
• 5.14. S.E.E.
• 5.15. Increasing Rider Visibility
• 5.16. Crash Avoidance
• 5.17. Handling Dangerous Surfaces
• 5.18. Mechanical Problems
• 5.19. Unavoidable Hazards
• 5.20. Getting Off the Road
• 5.21. Carrying Passengers and Cargo
• 5.22. Group Riding
• 5.23. Riding While Impaired

Cars and motorcycles need a full lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is usually prohibited. Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can leave you vulnerable to the unexpected. A hand could come out of a window; a door could open; a car could turn suddenly. Discourage lane sharing by others. Keep a center-portion position whenever drivers might be tempted to squeeze by you. Drivers are most tempted to do this:

• In heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic.
• When they want to pass you.
• When you are preparing to turn at an intersection.
• When you are getting in an exit lane or leaving a highway.

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